At home, a young man should show the qualities of a son; abroad, those of a younger brother. He should be circumspect but truthful. He should have charity in his heart for all men, but associate only with the virtuous. After thus regulating his conduct, his surplus energy should be de voted to literary culture.
In the matter of food and lodging, the nobler type of man does not seek mere repletion and comfort. He is earnest in his affairs and cautious in his speech, and frequents virtuous company for his own improvement. He may be called one truly bent on the study of virtue.[1]
Mêng I Tzǔ[2] asked for a definition of filial piety. The Master said: It consists in there being no falling off.[3]—Fan Ch'ih was driving the Master's carriage some time after, when the latter told him, saying: Mêng I Tzǔ asked me about filial
- ↑ Literally, "he may be called a lover of learning." But "learning" in the mouth of Confucius is generally to be understood as study of the rules of right conduct with a view to their practical application. The object of all learning was to enable a man to develop the natural goodness within him, so as to lead a life of virtuous culture. It was not pursued solely for its own sake, nor had it become, as with us, divorced from all ethical significance.
- ↑ The chief of the house of Mêng, one of the three great families of Lu, and (according to Ssǔ-ma Ch'ien) a disciple of Confucius.
- ↑ The reply is enigmatical, but it is clear from what follows that this, and not, as Legge translates, "disobedience," is the true meaning.
